Appeals Court Rules Texas Abortion Restrictions May Take Effect

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the state of Texas may enforce new abortion restrictions while it appeals a district court judge's decision that deemed parts of the abortion law unconstitutional.

After a federal judge ruled that the new law unreasonably restricted women's access to abortion clinics and violated doctors' right to do what they think best for patients, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) filed an emergency motion to stay the decision.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans granted the stay for the duration of the appeal process, temporarily lifting the lower court's injunction and allowing the restrictions to take effect immediately.

Enforcement of the provision of the law requiring doctors to have admitting privileges at hospitals threatens to block about a third of the state's abortion providers from providing that service, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.